CEO Sue McCollum wins 2014 Dancing with the St. Louis Stars with highest fundraising total

St. Louis, MO – Major Brands CEO Sue McCollum was crowned the winner of the 2014 Dancing with the St. Louis Stars competition for raising the most funds to support the Independence Center. The event, held Jan. 25 at the Four Seasons Hotel, raised a record $473,000 to provide programs and services to assist adults living with severe mental illness to live and work independently in the St. Louis area. McCollum gathered 7,740 votes, with each vote equal to $10, for a total of $74,740.

CEO Sue McCollum wins 2014 Dancing with the St. Louis Stars with highest fundraising total

“Sue McCollum and Major Brands have raised the bar for charitable giving in our community,” Keller said.

“We had a lot of very competitive individuals this year, and this is a huge step up for us,” Keller said. “The funds raised will help ensure that we continue to provide in-depth, comprehensive, high-quality services for thousands of adults with serious mental illness, including employment assistance, safe and affordable housing, wellness, out-patient psychiatric services and social activities.”

In addition to winning the championship for raising the most funds, McCollum was also was voted Audience Favorite. McCollum and her professional dance partner, Senzo Makhaye, performed to pop singer Donna Summer’s 1983 hit, “She Works Hard for the Money,” with backup dancers from the Gateway Men’s Chorus. McCollum wore her vintage waitress’s uniform from Friendly’s Ice Cream, where she worked as a high school student in Buffalo, New York.